Ed Hearn

Ed Hearn was once best known for his spot on the 1986, World Series Champions, New York Mets roster. Today, Hearn is a dedicated father, author, and motivational speaker. He believes in, and has experienced, the power of courage, faith, and determination in the face of life’s most difficult challenges.

Hearn played 13 years of professional baseball, including time with the Kansas City Royals, before his promising career came to a sudden end as the result of a severe shoulder injury. Three months after starting a new career, he was diagnosed with three potentially life-threatening illnesses. He fought these conditions with strength and determination, surviving three kidney transplants and a battle with cancer. Despite these health challenges, Hearn uses a breathing machine each night and undergoes a costly IV treatment once a month, managing his condition with up to 50 pills per day.

In 2001, he became the first professional Major League sports athlete from the United States to receive the prestigious Certified Speaking Profession designation from the National Speakers Association. As the author of “Conquering Life’s Curves: Baseball, Battles, & Beyond”, Hearn has appeared on hundreds of national radio and television programs including "The Oprah Winfrey Show", "The 700 Club", and MSNBC. His presentations are described as a dynamic mix of entertainment, insight, and inspiration, focusing on overcoming life's challenges and significant changes, drawing heavily from his experiences as a championship athlete and his personal health battles.

Hearn resides in Shawnee, KS with his wife, Trish, and their son, Cody, who is in remission from Stage 3 Burkitt's Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Cody's fight adds a deeply personal chapter to Hearn's talks on courage and perseverance. Hearn is very active in various community activities as well as his church and spends countless hours of his time with the youth of Kansas City. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and golf. All proceeds from Ed’s book sales and speaking go directly to support the goals and vision of The Bottom of the Ninth, a Kansas-based non-profit founded by Hearn, dedicated to rebuilding the spirit and character of this nation.